Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Bluzmann57

(12,336 posts)
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 02:58 PM Jun 2016

What do we tell the children?

Doing yard work today, mowing, trimming trees, etc. and bagging all of the yard waste up like we're supposed to. I got six bags worth and decided to take them to the County Compost facility, located about 2.5 miles from my house. My seven year old daughter wanted to ride along so I said, "Sure. Why not?"
We got there, paid the nominal fee and backed the truck into what looked like a suitable spot to quickly unload the bags and go on about our business. I opened up the back of the truck and noticed the guy next to me not only had a sign on the side of his truck which said, "Oathkeepers", he also had a pistol strapped on. It was holstered, but unmistakably a pistol. My daughter, who is curious and not really shy, asked him, "Mister, why do you have a gun?" I was trying to stop her and unload the truck all at once so it was not easy. Anyway, the guy said, "Honey, we need to beware of the federal government. They are coming to take away our freedoms." I was trying to hustle her into the truck before the guy said anything else because I was ready to go off on him myself but he had a (presumably loaded) pistol in plain sight and I don't particularly want to get shot. We got the bags out of the truck and moved along without any further incident but I am afraid that I gave an inadequate answer to my kid when she asked me why he had a gun. I told her that maybe he feels unsafe around people who are different than him (like her) and he is afraid. I also told her it's not a good thing to always be scared, sometimes things happen but that we should just move on with our lives and learn from incidents.
This guy owns a landscape business but I'll never do business with him. I hope no one else will either. Hope I haven't offended anyone or bored anyone to tears.

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What do we tell the children? (Original Post) Bluzmann57 Jun 2016 OP
Life, today, isn't as simple as it once was. I wouldn't go to his place of business. In_The_Wind Jun 2016 #1
They teach the kids how to barricade themselves in school now. Bluzmann57 Jun 2016 #2
It's wrong that any child, anywhere, should have the need to learn about that. In_The_Wind Jun 2016 #5
They used to teach them that diving under their desk would protect them from nuclear blasts Scootaloo Jun 2016 #11
Tell her he's guarding the garbage. rug Jun 2016 #3
When a drone launches hellfire missiles down on his compound.... NightWatcher Jun 2016 #4
(Grand)Dad to Dad: billymike Jun 2016 #6
Ditto, (Grand)Mom to Dad and billymike. elleng Jun 2016 #8
White males are a declining demographic awoke_in_2003 Jun 2016 #7
Cool story, bro. Kang Colby Jun 2016 #9
My favorite part was the "Oathkeepers" sign on his truck. EL34x4 Jun 2016 #21
I thought you handled and explained this very well for a 7 year old Martin Eden Jun 2016 #10
"would result in hardships " dixiegrrrrl Jun 2016 #14
Why not just tell your daughter the truth? OldRedneck Jun 2016 #12
Tell her he is insane and to keep away from him. Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2016 #13
Perfect. That is totally perfect. n/t dixiegrrrrl Jun 2016 #15
Love the toon! Bluzmann57 Jun 2016 #16
I think it was an inadequate answer. Igel Jun 2016 #17
Thanks for the input Bluzmann57 Jun 2016 #19
i bet he'll take his social security and medicare from that damned 'federal gubmint' spanone Jun 2016 #18
Easy, don't have children and you don't have to worry about this question. RB TexLa Jun 2016 #20
And those who enjoy their parenthood and their children just feel sad for you pinboy3niner Jun 2016 #22
That would have scared me, too! Rhiannon12866 Jun 2016 #23
That idiot really thinks a sidearm is going to stop the big, bad Ilsa Jun 2016 #24

Bluzmann57

(12,336 posts)
2. They teach the kids how to barricade themselves in school now.
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 03:05 PM
Jun 2016

I think that's a sad commentary on American life.

 

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)
11. They used to teach them that diving under their desk would protect them from nuclear blasts
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 05:31 PM
Jun 2016

I'm not sure if we're looking at 'sign of hte times" stuff, or "sign of the system' stuff.

 

rug

(82,333 posts)
3. Tell her he's guarding the garbage.
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 03:05 PM
Jun 2016

Then, in the most gentle manner possible, tell her there are people in the world who will shoot people to protect garbage.

By the time she's a teenager she will understand corporations.

 

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)
7. White males are a declining demographic
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 03:28 PM
Jun 2016

and, thusly, are losing political power. They know it, and it is making them scared and crazy.

On edit: I am a white male, and understand that not all of us are going crazy- just the well armed ones, which is worrisome.

Martin Eden

(12,801 posts)
10. I thought you handled and explained this very well for a 7 year old
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 04:00 PM
Jun 2016

Just keep in mind that this is book is not closed. Continual wise mentoring on guns, foolish adults, and a host of other issues will be necessary.

My own take on the individual you encountered is that he's indulging in a sick and delusional fantasy. Under what circumstances would using his gun(s) against federal authority enhance his freedom? He would be dead or in prison.

Beyond that, an actual shooting war that would somehow manage to overthrow our own government would result in hardships and tyranny far greater than whatever his warped mind currently conjures up. The armed "militias" that would likely spearhead such a revolt would be the centers of power in a war torn land controlled by local warlords. The Constitutional government bequeathed to us by our nation's Founders would be destroyed, not preserved.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
14. "would result in hardships "
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 06:41 PM
Jun 2016

A whole herd of the armed white guys could not even manage to handle occupying a forest ranger post.
I am not too afraid of folks like them as long as they are not around me, cause they have no idea how to handle weapons, from what we saw on the news.
And some of them drink.

 

OldRedneck

(1,397 posts)
12. Why not just tell your daughter the truth?
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 05:51 PM
Jun 2016

"Daddy, why does that man have a gun?"

"Because he's an asshole."

"Daddy, what's an asshole?"

Igel

(35,191 posts)
17. I think it was an inadequate answer.
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 11:42 PM
Jun 2016

It assumes that the guy is a racist because he's white and has a gun. It teaches her that the stock answer to why somebody different from her does something is that he feels unsafe around her because she's different or because he's afraid of her because she's different.

His actions are all about her difference. I'm assuming it's race.

I'd have said it has nothing to do with her (it doesn't), and that he doesn't trust the government. Maybe he lives in a tough neighborhood or carries cash and thinks he needs to defend himself. If she asked why he didn't trust government I'd have answered, "No idea. Maybe they messed up and he resents it, maybe he messed up and thinks they're coming for him, maybe he doesn't understand something or he's afraid somebody's going to take away his rights." And that would be a good time to explain that rights, even those you personally disagree with, should be respected, because when you start intruding on rights bad things happen.

Bluzmann57

(12,336 posts)
19. Thanks for the input
Sun Jun 26, 2016, 01:32 PM
Jun 2016

I do the best I can. She didn't ask why he didn't trust government but if she does, I may take your (presumably expert) advice.

 

RB TexLa

(17,003 posts)
20. Easy, don't have children and you don't have to worry about this question.
Sun Jun 26, 2016, 01:39 PM
Jun 2016


It's one of the thousands of things I never have to worry about. Posts like this make me feel great. You all can worry about shit like that and I can just laugh at you.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
22. And those who enjoy their parenthood and their children just feel sad for you
Mon Jun 27, 2016, 05:14 AM
Jun 2016

There is nothing wrong with some people choosing not to have children. But reacting to those who make a different choice with derision and laughter is just very weird and sad.

Rhiannon12866

(202,955 posts)
23. That would have scared me, too!
Mon Jun 27, 2016, 05:29 AM
Jun 2016

At least the creep was friendly to your little girl. And seven is kind of a young age to be expected to understand these things. I'm not sure I do. I think you did a good job. And it also sounds like you've already done a good job with your daughter.

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
24. That idiot really thinks a sidearm is going to stop the big, bad
Mon Jun 27, 2016, 06:18 AM
Jun 2016

Federal gubmint? He's a loser, and I bet his wife is, too.

Glad you know who he is and which business he owns.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What do we tell the child...